Shaft drill rig



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1950 2 0 7 3 5/ J g o ENFIH I HVJV 0 I. 9O 11 8 z 6 .o a 3 Iv 5 u u ,o 23 a 7 4 n 3 a 3 7 2 5 a 3 2 8 .l B 2 T I: 2: 2: 6-! v 6 F a 2 SAMUEL D, GUNNING INVENTOR.

April 20, 1954 s. D. GUNNING 2,675,996

SHAFT DRILL RIG Filed Sept. 5, 1950 4 SheetsSheet.2

SAMUEL D GUNNING INVENTOR.

ATTo/E NE) April 20, 1954 s. D. GUNNING SHAFT DRILL RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 5, 1950 FIG. 4

FIG.3

SAMUEL p M INVENTOR.

April 20, 1954 s. D. GUNNING 2,675,996

SHAFT DRILL RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 5, 1950 FIG. 9

SAMUEL a: euumue INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES ICE SHAFT DRILL RIG Application September 5, 1950, Serial No. 133,240

Claims. 1

This invention relates broadly to rock drilling apparatus, but more particularly to a portable shaft drilling rig.

One object of this invention is to produce a drill rig capable of being suspended from a crane or the like and carrying rock drilling apparatus for drilling holes such as required preparatory to the excavation of vertical shafts.

Another object of this invention is to equip such drill rig with adequate and simple mechanisms through which the position of the drilling apparatus may be adjusted for drilling shaft of difierent diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide such drill rig with adequate and simple mechanisms through which the drilling apparatus may be maintained or changed from their normal vertical position, irrespective of the diameter of the shaft intended to be drilled.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational diagrammatic view of the drill rig embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Figure 1, showing the drill rig in operative position in a cylindrical shaft being drilled.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken through line 33 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken through line =lt in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 5--5 in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the air motors shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 1-7 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 8-45 in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 9--9 in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the drill rig includes a hanger box it of substantially inverted U-shaped cross section having an upper or cross wall 5 E to which is rigidly secured a heavy metal loop i2. Near their longitudinal ends, the side walls l3 and l 4 of the hanger box carry cross pins 55 which extend transversely thereof and are retained, against accidental removal, by any suitable means such as spring clips l6.

Depending from the hanger box I 0, are two diametrically opposed relatively long diverging arms ll, each arm being made of a pair of laterally spaced relatively heavy rods l8 and I9 disposed in parallel relation and secured against relative movement in the manner about to be described. The upper end of each arm i! is pivotally connected to the hanger box it by one of the cross pins 25, which pin extends through the rods it and it as clearly shown in Figure 3. Located in the hanger box it between the arms l8 and It and carried by the cross pins I5, there is a bridge-like bracket 2t having an elongated slot 2! extending centrally therethrough and a cross pin 22 carried by the bracket and held against accidental removal by spring clips 23. On the cross pin 22 is pivotally mounted the upper flattened end 2d of a screw shaft or screw member 25, which end fits closely in the slot 2| but is capable of pivotal movement relative thereto. The screw shaft 25 which is thus suspended by its upper end 24 to the hanger box Ill, extends downwardly therefrom equidistantly between the arms ii, and has mounted thereon an actuator assembly 26, clearly shown in Figure 9, comprising a housing 6-5 having a nut member 66 rotatably carried therein in screw thread engagement with the screw shaft 25. The external wall of the nut member $6 is machined to form a worm gear 61 operatively engaged by a worm 68 which is connected to and rotated by a reversible compressed air actuated motor 2?. By virtue of this worm and worm gear transmission, it will be understood that rotation from a relatively high speed motor can be transmitted to the nut member 66 at a greatly reduced speed. The lower portion of the housing G5 is formed with an integral laterally extending and substantially H-shaped bracket 28, having its free ends pivotally connected, as at 32, to the lower ends of two levers 33, while the upper ends of the levers fit between the rods 58 and it of the arms ii and are pivotally connected thereto near the upper end thereof by cross pins 34 against accidental removal by spring clips 35. As shown in Figure 3, the several elements pivotally connected by either the pins it or 3d, are spaced by washers 36, which are heat treated to withstand wear and reduce friction.

Rigidly secured to the lower end of each arm I! and projecting inwardly and laterally therefrom, there is a support 3'! formed of two laterally spaced supporting elements is welded at one end to the lower end of the rods i8 and i9 and, at a place intermediate their ends, clamped on a spacing sleeve 35 by a cross bolt 4%. The other ends of the supporting elements 33 are machined into two parallel and laterally spaced lugs 42 carrying diametrically opposed trunnions 42 located therebetween and formed by the heads of bolts 43 which extend through the lugs il. Each supporting element 38 is reinforced by a brace 44 which is welded to the element at a place at.- jacent its free end and to the corresponding rod I8 or IQ of the arm l1.

Pivotally mounted on the trunnions 42, there are the laterally spaced lugs 3-5 of a power unit which include an actuator 46 and an air motor 51, both being substantially the same as the motor 21 and actuator 26 shown in Figure 9. The actuator 46 has a nut member, not shown, rotatably carried thereon in operative engagement with a screw shaft 48 which extends upwardly between the lugs 45 as clearly shown in Figure 4. The lower end of the screw is pivotally connected, as at 49, to the front end portion of a drilling apparatus generally designated by 5b.

This drilling apparatus includes a relatively long drill guiding frame 5! provided with guideways 52 extending the full length thereof in which is free to slide a rock drill 53 carrying a drill steel 54. This drilling apparatus may be of any suitable type well known in this art, and as shown may be eqiupped with a fluid actuated feeding mechanism including a feed cylinder 55 and piston rod 55. Feeding motion, that is longitudinal movement of the rock drill 53 on its frame 5| is transmitted from the feeding mechanism to the rock drill by a flexible cable or chain, not shown. Since this drilling apparatus well known in this art, no further description is thought necessary other than pointing out that in the present construction it has an integrai, relatively heavy lug 51, extending laterally therefrom at a point located somewhat closer to the lower than the upper ends thereof. This lug extends between the lower ends of the rods i8 and 19 of the arm ll, where it is pivotally connected by a," cross pin 58, retained against accidental removal by spring clips 59.

In practice, motive fluid such as compressed air is supplied to the air motors 21 and 4? and the two drilling apparatus til through flexible conduits, not shown. The supply of the motive fluid is controlled by adequate throttle valves, not shown, which are preferably located near the motive fluid source of supply such as the air compressor. The entire drilling rig above described, is preferably suspended to the cable of a hoist or crane hooked to the loop !2, thereby enabling the entire rig to be raised or lowered as well as rctated on its own center axis.

With the drill rig suspended from its loop iii, the two drilling apparatus 56 may be set in motion for delivering a rapid succession of impacts to the drill steels 54 and drilling holes in the usual way. In shaft drilling, it is customary to first drill a series of inner holes 60 leaning inwardly. For this operation, the two arms ii may be moved closer to each other by actuating the motor 21 and effecting rotation of the nut 8% of the actuator 26 in a direction causing the housing 55 and its integral bracket 28 to move downward on the screw shaft 25. This downward movement of the bracket 28 will cause the arms l'i, through the levers 33, to close or move toward each other until the rock drills 53 have reached the desired position. In other words the longitudinal movement of the actuator 26 and bracket 28 is translated into pivotal movement of the arms i! by the levers 33. Thereupon, the supply of motive fluid to the motor 27 will be shut off, causing the nut member 66 and screw shaft 25, which are self looking, to maintain the actuator 26 stationary and the arms I! in the desired position.

If it is desired to move the two drilling apparatus 50 from the vertical position shown in Figure 1, motive fluid will have to be admitted to the air motors 4'! to impart rotation to the nut of each actuator 45 in one direction to cause inward, and in the other direction to cause outward, tilting of the drilling apparatus. When the drilling apparatus have reached the desired drilling angle, the supply of the motive fluid to the motors 4'? may be shut off, causing the nuts or the actuators 46 and screw shafts at, which are also self-locking, to maintain the drilling apparatus in the desired position.

When it is desired to drill the intermediate holes 6| or outer holes 62, that is when it is desired to increase the distance between the drill steels 54, motive fluid may be admitted to the motor 21 for imparting rotation to the nut es of the actuator 25 causing the housing 65 and its integral bracket 23' to move on the screw shaft 25 toward the hanger box it. This upward movement of the bracket 28 will cause the arms ll, through the levers 33, to open or move away from each other, thereby increasing the distance between the two drill steels 5 3.

During the drilling operation, that is the delivery by the rock drills 53 of impacts in rapid succession on the drill steels at in the usual manner, the rock drills, instead of being fed together toward the work by lowering the entire drill rig, are preferably fed independently of each other. In this instance, each rock drill is first fed by its feeding mechanism to the upper end of its frame 5!. After the drill steel 5% has been inserted in the front end of the rock drill, the entire drill rig is lowered until the drill steel reaches the work or bottom of the hole being drilled, and with the rock drill in operation it is thereafter gradually fed by its feeding mechanism for downward movement relative to its supporting frame 5!. After the drilling of the two holes to the desired depth, the rock drills are again fed to the upper ends of their frames 5! and, if need be, the entire drill rig raised until the drill steels 5A are removed from the drilled holes. Thereafter the dril rig can manually be rotated on its own center axis until it has reached the desired position for drilling the next pair of holes.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that since the entire drill rig is suspended from a cable or the like of a hoist or crane, it is especially adaptable to the drilling of holes preparatory to the excavation and construction of vertical shafts. The two drilling apparatus 53 supported by the arms H, can be made to operate for drilling holes in the bottom of a shaft several hundred feet below ground level. It will also be understood that the pivotal movement of the arms i'a and of the drilling apparatus all within a common vertical plane, can also be effected when the rig is located near the bottom of the shaft irrespective of its depth. I

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order to completely set forth the invention, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining and it is to be further understood that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of structural detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A suspended drill rig including a hanger box, a pair of elongated rigid arms pivotally connected to said box and diverging downwardly therefrom, a drilling apparatus carried by the lower end or: each of said arms, a screw shaft carried by said box and depending therefrom between said arms, a nut member in cooperative engagement with said screw shaft longitudinally movable thereon upon rotation relative thereto, a housing for said nut member longitu dinally movable therewith, motor means imparting rotation to said nut member relative to said screw shaft, and levers pivotally connected to said housing and arm effecting translation of the longitudinal movement of said housing into the pivotal movement of said arms.

2. A suspended drill rig including a pair of elongated rigid arms, drill rig supporting means pivotally connected at the upper ends of said arms from which the arms diverge downwardly, a drilling apparatus operatively carried by the lower end of each of said arms, a screw member carried by said supporting means and depending therefrom equidistantly between said arms, a nut member in cooperative engagement with said screw member longitudinally movable thereon upon relative rotation therebetween, a 9

housing for said nut member longitudinally movable therewith, rotation imparting means operatively associated with one of said members for effecting said relative rotation, and levers pivotally connected to said housing and arms effecting translation from the longitudnial movement of said housing to the pivotal movement of said arms.

A suspended drill rig including a hanger box, a pair of diverging rigid arms depending from said box, a pivotal connection between the upper ends of said arms and box enabling adjustment of said arms toward or away from each other, a drilling apparatus operatively carried by the lower end of each of said arms, a screw member carried by said box and depending therefrom equidistantly between the upper end portions of said arms, a nut member normally in screw threaded locking engagement with said screw member but longitudinally movable thereon upon rotation relative thereto, a housing for said nut member longitudinally movable therewith, a lever for each of said arms pivotally connected thereto near the upper end thereof and converging therefrom toward said housing, pivotal connections between said levers and housing whereby said arms are normally held separated but adjustable toward or away from each other upon longitudinal movement of said housing, and power actuated rotation imparting means operatively associated with said nut memher.

4. A suspended drill rig including a hanger box, a pair of elongated rigid arms pivotally suspended to said box and diverging downwardly therefrom, a pair of levers pivotally connected to said arms near the upper end thereof and converging downwardly therefrom, a screw threaded member carried by said box operatively associated with a nut member longitudinally movable thereon upon relative rotation therebetween, a housing for said nut member longitudinally movable therewith, pivotal connections between the converging ends of said levers and housing whereby said arms are normally held separated but adjustable toward or away from each other upon longitudinal movement of said housing, and power actuated rotation imparting means operatively associated with one of said members for effecting said relative rotation.

5. A suspended drill rig including a pair of elongated rigid arms, drill rig supporting means pivotally connected at the upper ends of said arms from which the arms diverge downwardly, a drilling apparatus operatively carried by the lower end of each of said arms, a screw member carried by said supporting means and depending therefrom equidistantly between said arms, a nut member normally in screw threaded locking engagement with said screw member but longitudinally movable thereon upon relative rotation therebetween, a housing for said nut member longitudinally movable therewith, a lever for each of said arms pivotally connected thereto near the upper end thereof and converging therefrom toward said housing pivotal connections between said levers and housing whereby said arms are normally held separated but adjustable toward or away from each other upon longitudinal movement of said housing, and power actuated rotation imparting means operatively associated with one of said members for effecting said relative rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,870,288 Hayward et a1. Aug. 9, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 169,513 Germany 1906 255,521 Great Britain 1926 

